Korea’s bustling capital for about six centuries, Seoul takes its place among the world’s greatest metropolitan areas. Ten million inhabitants live in this fascinating city, where there is no shortage of museums, historic temples and palaces, not to mention the many cultural and natural opportunities.
Visitors can spend their day shopping, indulge in exciting nightlife and entertainment, or else have a fine dining experience at the city’s family-owned inexpensive restaurants. Hiking is another active pursuit on the slopes around the city, along with biking and golfing. In our future posts we’ll return to popular attractions and activities of Seoul, leaving today’s to introducing some of the finest museums of the city that attract tenth of thousands of annual visitors and never fail to amaze with what they have on display.
National Museum of Korea
One of the largest museums in Asia and the sixth largest in the world with more than 220,000 pieces of exhibits, the National Museum of Korea is an ideal venue to start to learn more about the Korean culture. Located in the Seokjojeon building in Gyeongbokgung Palace until October 2004 and now housed in a new building within Yongsan Family Park, the museum is a world-class cultural complex with various exhibition halls, a performance stage, grand and small auditoriums and lecture rooms. In the different sections of the museum, one can find the Ancient History Gallery, Painting Gallery and the Sculpture and Crafts Gallery to name but a few, each with its own collections, showcasing everything from Buddhist sculptures to metal works to ceramics.
The National Museum of Korea is also home to a Children’s Museum, which styles its exhibits around the theme ‘An exciting journey to the past.’ In addition to the expansive permanent collection, the museum hosts impressive special exhibitions as well. At Saturdays, the museum holds such events as concerts, performances, international conferences and film festivals. Outside the museum are a number of open green areas, beautiful ponds, open air theater and a waterfall. Guided tours are available. The museum is open daily, except Monday, from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. Currently, there is no fee for the main exhibition.
Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art
A grand masterpiece of world-famous architects Mario Botta, Jean Nouvel and Rem Koolhaas, the Museum complex of Leeum is located on the slopes of Namsan Mountain beside the Hyatt Hotel Seoul and is made up of three buildings: Museum 1, Museum 2, and the Samsung Child Education & Culture Center. A popular tourist attraction and definitely one of the best museums in South Korea, Leeum is where Korean art and international art coexist in harmony under the theme of the past, present and future of art and design.
The first building showcases Buddhist art, Korean ceramics, paintings and calligraphy. The second building showcases contemporary art from Korean artists, including luminaries like Bacon, Warhol, Barney and Albers. While the third building supplements the two museums by contributing to the cultural education of the future leaders. In a nutshell, Leeum is a museum of new ideas and bridges of the East and West with its eye on the future. Keep in mind – visiting the museum promises a truly remarkable artistic experience!
Totoman Toy Museum
If it’s Korea’s contemporary history and local culture you are interested in, Totoman is the place to be. Literally like a large shop that attracts the young and the old alike, the museum showcases items from the country’s 1970s and 1980s, including old school books, posters, book bags, toys and household goods, as well as some old comic characters, old public phones, which no longer exist and more. All visitors to the museum will be gifted with a small souvenir as a token of love and affection. There are also a pretty number of shopkeepers who sell toys. Your children will really be happy if you take them to this playful corner of the Seoul.